Eta Carinae is the largest and most resplendent system of stars within 10,000 light-years of Earth, according to NASA, and has a reputation for erratic behavior.

Eta Carinae erupted two times during the 19th century, and scientists still aren’t sure why. Astronomers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, have been conducting a long-term study using NASA satellites, ground-based telescopes and theoretical modeling to try to create the most inclusive picture of Eta Carinae yet.